"Just my backpack." Given that most of the space on her back is occupied by her quivers, Sakura also has a specially made pack that sits just below them. While the quivers take up more than half of the available space from her left hip to her right shoulder, the pack sits just below them to the right like a satchel. Her bag doesn't have as much room as the ones used by the rest of the party, but she can still carry a couple of days' worth of food. I check the contents of the bag and then look down at her armor. The flashy leather armor is a little worn from its recent use, but I don't see any noteworthy damage. The only thing that's changed with her armor is a set of steel bracers with thick plating over the knuckles to protect her fingers. Sakura is extremely unpredictable when she loses control and often attacks with only her bare hands. These bracers will prevent any permanent injuries from accruing while also causing more damage on impact. Satisfied that she has everything in order, I move to the next pile of equipment, where Josh stands calmly.
"Josh, How ya doing?"
"Good."
"I'm glad to hear it. Any problems with your equipment?"
"No."
"Perfect, let me just glance over it real quick," I say as I kneel down to inspect his heavy metal armor. His set was pretty well mangled after our fight with the Equuivores, but the blacksmith, Young-ho, has completely repaired it. Given the weight of his equipment, we decided that he should only carry his belt and a small bag of personal supplies to avoid affecting his movement. He has the standard set of potions we all use fully stocked up and a lightning rod for long-distance attacks.
"Looks good to me." Shinobu is the next up and can't seem to hold in her excitement.
"I already went over my equipment ten times yesterday, so I know I have everything I need!"
"I'm sure you do, but it doesn't hurt to get a second pair of eyes on it." Given her position as support, Shinobu actually carries the heaviest load out in our party. She has two leg pouches, one for each side, an extra quiver with thirty arrows, an extra-large belt with additional room for four mana potions and a large backpack. The spell rod she carries can create an earthen wall for defense, similar to the magic Sam uses. As the weakest link in the party, it's best to have her kit focused on defense. Her leather armor hasn't changed, and the only weapon she carries is a short steel sword for personal defense, along with a small shield. It's rather distracting to hear Shinobu tapping her feet as she shifts her weight back and forth, but I push the noise out of my mind and focus on the inspection. "Everything looks good. Let me once over my stuff, and we'll get going."
"Yay!"
"I wonder what we're going to find down there; I bet it's a huge fire-breathing dragon with six legs and two heads! And then we'll have to–" I tune out Shinobu's giddy rambling and turn to my our pile of equipment.
Some of the parts had to be replaced after our fight with the Equuivores. Though sturdy, the insect carapace used in my armor can't be repaired. Fortunately, Young-ho had plenty in stock and could easily replace the damaged sections. The new sections don't match the color of the original pieces, which throws off the aesthetics, but it doesn't bother me too much. I have the same load out on my belt as Sakura and Josh except for the spell rod, which can cast fireballs. Given my Flash Step skill, I can most easily flank our enemies and strike them from a vulnerable position, so it makes sense that I'm using a damage-dealing spell rod. We actually had a discussion about whether we should all carry fire rods, but we decided upon a more well-rounded approach. Some monsters are immune to fire, so various spells allow us to deal with more monster types. I also have a leg pouch which contains four magic grenades and an extra stamina potion. I figured it'd be best to have an extra due to the skills I use. Flash step, in particular, can drain my stamina in a matter of seconds if I'm not careful.
My spear has been recently sharpened, and my magic bag is filled with food and extra potions. One advantage of this bag is the fact that the contents don't jostle around as they inhabit a localized space, so I don't have to worry about the potions breaking. The glass containers are reinforced but are not indestructible by any means.
"Are you ready?" Travis asks as he walks up, fully armored. He has an interesting mix of mail and plate armor that emphasizes defense but isn't as restrictive as the full plate.
"Yup, we just finished our inspection."
"Great! We'll head to the north gate to inform the guards, just meet us there when you get geared up."
"Sounds good." We each take our gear into one of the changing rooms, which lines one whole corridor of the guild. The tension builds as I get fitted. I can feel my heart beating through my chest as I walk out into the hallway. Josh stares directly into my eyes with an even more serious expression than he usually wears. The air is tense with fear and excitement. It isn't long before Sakura and Shinobu exit their rooms as well. All the animated chatter from early has disappeared behind us, and only we remain. The change is striking but helps calm me down. I'm reminded of the reliable teammates that have fought by my side these last few months. From the shade of the Mammoth Trees to the depths of the dungeon, they have shed sweat, blood, and tears for this moment.
We silently walk down the hallway into the guild hall. The hustle and bustle of the crowd feel distant and muted. A few eyes dart in our direction but quickly look away to avoid our attention. I imagine we look like a completely different group of people now.
We walk around the mass of bodies and make our way outside. The bright sun of spring belies our deadly mission. I can feel my blood pumping desperately through my arms. The tension only grows as we approach the northern gate.
"Ha, look at you, little warriors. I know this is your first time conquering a dungeon, but you need to relax. You're making me nervous." Travis slaps me on the back a couple of times as he gives some advice. My shoulders drop as all the tension leaves my body. I can't help but laugh as he slices apart our grim determination.
"I'm just trying to stay focused, but you're not making it easy," I complain.
"Focus once we get there. You're just gonna wear yourself out if you try to keep that up all day."
"Very well." I stretch my shoulders and take a few deep breaths to slow my heartbeat. I'm still nervous, but Travis's words help take the edge off.